MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
June 1, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 – 11th Avenue.
INVOCATION
Pastor David Vivas offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Salvador Solorio-Ruiz, Mario Nunez, Joe Alindajao (arrived at 5:35pm), Liz Morris, Bryan Osorio
Council members absent: None
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Chavez, Assistant City Attorney King, Finance Director Lara Rios, Police Chief Nicholson, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Public Works Director Nunez, City Engineer Rodriguez, Transit Manager Alapisco, Fire Chief Crist and Senior Planner Lara
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
• Richie M. Sayavong, California Department of Insurance provided a Legislation Update presentation.
Council Member Alindajao arrived at 5:35pm.
• Mayor Solorio-Ruiz and Chief Nicholson presented Delano Police Department’s new promotions.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Fernando Bravo – “Hi, good evening, Mayor City Council. My name is Fernando Bravo, 1417 Belmont Street. And I just want to bring up this issue. Well, this morning we had a meeting with the manager of recreation who's in charge of the senior citizens and we discussed about the AC unit and she said that you guys were going to put out a bid to get it repaired. And at the meantime, we will be relocating while you guys get the unit fixed from the Jefferson to Ellington this Wednesday. So, we took care of that. So, I'm going to mention to the seniors tomorrow about the situation and then also I want I'd like to ask the city lawyer since this building was built in 20 what, 15 or so and opened 2018, 17 or 18. It's not even been 10 years since that AC's been breaking down constantly. And if the lawyer can check into getting a lawsuit against the company who sold us this unit or at least get a discount of getting a new unit installed. It's just like people who buy cars, manufacturers on the motors, they get recalls. So, this should be a recall item. And hopefully if you guys can put a rush on fixing this problem, we don't want to be there the whole month of June, July or August and September. So, we want to go back to the Jefferson Center.
Right?”
2. Pastor David Vivias – “Good evening, Council Members. Pastor David Vivas. I know that back in May of 2013, the former Senior Citizens Center burned down, caught on fire, burnt, and of course this new edifice was built, beautiful edifice. And I've heard Mr. Bravo a few times bring complaints about this issue and we know how hot it gets around here in Delano. And I'm pretty sure that if the AC units went down in a lot of the buildings that maybe you work at, your home, I'm sure that we would be immediately calling the AC company. And the seniors, they deserve the very best that our city can possibly afford. And I truly believe that because they put in their time.
They've did their fair share of work over the years and invested in this community. And so, as citizens, residents, elected officials, we ought to do our very best to exemplify a spirit of excellence here in our community to make sure that every unit is working properly. I mean, think about it. My mother attends the senior citizens from time to time. And of course, I know that all of us here have friends or family members that attend. And so, we want to make sure that's good that we have a backup, but there is a beautiful edifice right there on Jefferson Street that the seniors can enjoy. And so, to have appropriate and proper working units is necessary again, especially during our summer months that we are quickly approaching. So, I just want to back up Mr. Bravo and just ask that we do whatever we have to do to get the attention of these people so that they don't continue to drag on. I know that they have other clients and other matters that they have to work on, maybe similar situations, but the City of Delano, let's do the very best that we can to get this thing sped up because they shouldn't have to be waiting and waiting and bringing this to our attention. I think bringing it to the attention one time, we should get on it right away immediately because again, our seniors in the city of Delano deserve the very best that we could possibly afford to give them. And if I was before my congregation, I'd say, can I get an amen? Thank you.”
CONSENT AGENDA
1) Authorization to waive the reading of any ordinance in its entirety and consenting to the reading of such ordinances by title only
2) Warrant Register in the amount of $2,476,891.45
3) Minutes of regular Council meeting of May 18, 2026
4) Award Contract to King Lion Construction, Inc. for the Concrete and Sidewalk Installation and Site Improvements for the Transit Department located at 1120 Glenwood St. and authorize City Manager to sign any agreements necessary to complete the project in the amount of $34,914.17 (Agreement No. 2026-30)
5) Report on the status of the local emergency regarding the failed sewer main located on the 900 block of Lexington Street pursuant to Public Contracts Code § 22050 6) Report on the status of the local emergency regarding the failed storm-sewer main located on 23rd Avenue and Princeton Street pursuant to Public Contracts Code § 22050 7) Award Revenue Sharing Transit Advertising to Zenith Billboards and authorize the City Manager to execute any necessary agreements (Agreement No. 2026-31) Motion was made by: Nunez to approved items 1-3, 5-7 on consent items; 2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/ Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Item No. 4 pulled by: Mayor Pro Tem Nunez
Reason for pulling item: “I just have a question. You don't have to do the report. My question was several months ago, probably going on eight or nine months ago, I started receiving a bunch of calls that this company, King Lion, did not have the proper license for doing the cement work that was required. I just want to confirm that that company does have the correct license that is required to do this specific job.”
Transit Manager Alapisco – “Well, I work closely with Public Works and they're the ones that gave me the bids and did all the leg work and they just sent me the quotes. So I'm here doing the stations, but Pedro is here to help me.”
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez – “Like I said, there was complaints earlier about they were not licensed properly. I just want to make sure that they are licensed properly now.” Public Works Director Nunez – “Good evening, Honorable Mayor and council members. That same question came to us a couple months ago regarding that. We looked into it. We called the State of California Contracting Board and they are licensed. They have their B license. So, in this case, they're doing demo work. They're doing some framing and they're doing concrete, so that qualifies them to do that type of work. So, they have to do at least two different type of contract work with the B license and they are able to do concrete work.”
Motion was made to approved item no. 4 by: Nunez;
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
8) Adopt resolution confirming costs expended in the execution of an emergency abatement order on the property located at 1329 Jefferson St (APN No. 038-240-01-6), authorizing the recordation of a nuisance abatement lien against the property to recover costs, and finding the same to be exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Resolution No. 2026-32)
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz declared the public hearing open.
Police Chief Nicholson provided the staff report.
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz opened public comment.
No public comments.
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz closed public comment.
Council Member Osorio – “Yeah, just two questions. In looking at the invoice and my reasoning behind the questions are that in looking at the overall context and the number of occasions where there were notices sent and then on the final occasion where there was an observed abuse of the elderly resident living there, seems like there was maybe some ailments or mental decline that came with not maybe responding. So my first question is if within the invoice, I don't see it here, but just for confirmation, the notices of a violation, those specific fees aren't included in the invoice or are they maybe under legal expenses?”
Police Chief Nicholson – “Let me check with staff real quick. They're not, no.” Council Member Osorio – “Okay. Thank you for that. And then number two is given that there's potential heirs, although they have issues with taking ownership, did they declare any interest in wanting to pay this even if there were no legal complications?”
Police Chief Nicholson – “I don't believe that they have expressed interest in paying it. They did express interest in the property. However, they failed to establish any type of ownership or any type of court order through probate.”
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez – “Just to confirm, this is a lien. So in the event that this property gets sold, that the city will get reimbursed, correct?”
Police Chief Nicholson – “This is a resolution confirming the cost the city has put forward towards this property and then the recordation of the nuisance abatement lien against the property. So we're recording the cost that it took and then taking the appropriate steps to lien against the property. That is correct.” Motion for approval was made by: Nunez;
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/ Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
9) Adopt resolution confirming costs expended in the abatement of a public nuisance on the property located at 238 W. Cecil Avenue (APN No. 519-031-03-3), authorizing the recordation of a nuisance abatement lien against the property to recover costs, and finding the same to be exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act. (Resolution No. 2026-33)
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz declared the public hearing open.
Police Chief Nicholson provided the staff report.
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz opened public comment.
Larry Smith – “Good evening. Larry Smith, 914 Alhambra Avenue. Mayor, team, city. I'm just helping my good friend and his mom that unfortunately they couldn't be here, but I will be making payments on this as the city does need to recover their monies for the loss of the work that was performed. So, I will be making this payment monthly. And when Steven returns from Alaska, he does hope to pay it off in full. So, I will be in by the 5th of each month to make the payment for him until he returns. So, thank you for your time. And if you still have to file the levy, by all means, I'm in business. You have to do what you have to do because at the end of the day, the city needs to get their money back. Thank you for your time.” Mayor Solorio-Ruiz closed public comment.
Council Member Osorio – “Yeah. Chief, thank you for your presentation. Just to confirm, in this case where there is a payment plan, how does that change the dynamics? Because as it was written, there was mention of there was no payment plan in place. So could you confirm that again as you were sharing?” Police Chief Nicholson – “It doesn't change the fact that the staff is encouraging Council to move forward with the lien. Like I said in my staff report, if it is paid off in full, the owner can request the city to retract the lien and the lien would be removed. I think it's imperative that Council goes forward and approves the lien against the property. Not saying Larry or ... I know Larry very well and I don't doubt that he or his family would pay it, but as we've seen in the past, people say that they will pay and they don't. But I think that we need to protect ourselves as the city, place the lien on the property, and if they pay it off in full, we will remove it. So that's my recommendation.” Council Member Alindajao – “Thank you, Mr. Smith, for your comments. I appreciate the commendable that you're helping out, I believe it was your aunt with that issue. I agree with Chief. I think the council should move forward with the recommendation. I think the city needs to protect its interest and costs by moving forward with the lien and I'll submit on that.”
Motion for approval was made by: Nunez;
2nd by: Morris
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/ Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
REGULAR AGENDA
10) Designation of a voting delegate and alternate(s) for the 2026 League of California Cities Annual Conference
City Manager provided the staff report.
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz opens public comment.
No public comments.
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez closes public comment.
Council Member Morris – “Yes. I'm generally the delegate, okay? And I probably will be going except for ... I haven't heard from Kaiser yet because they're scheduling me for surgery for a cochlear implant in September, but they haven't given me a concrete date yet. So, I don't know exactly just when, but my intentions are to go. So that means I'll probably need an alternate or somebody else to step up if I can't go.”
Council Member Alindajao – “Councilman Nunez notice I'm staring at them.” Mayor Pro Tem Nunez – “I unfortunately have previous engagements those every weekend starting in December. So, mine go from Wednesday to Saturday, starting in mid-August all the way through November. I will not be…”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “Just for the record, this is September 23rd to 25th.” Mayor Pro Tem Nunez – “Mine started in August 3rd.”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “During the week.”
Council Member Morris – “Again, actually it doesn't vote till the last day. So that would be Friday.” Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “You can miss Wednesday, technically.” Council Member Morris – “Yeah.”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “Yeah. You can drive up that day.” Council Member Osorio – “Yeah, that would be tough for me as well. I would say if I don't have to go to the last day, maybe, but with the expectation of attending all the days, it'd be very difficult for me.” Council Member Morris – “It's going to be right across the street from Disneyland. It's probably at the Anaheim Convention Center.”
Council Member Alindajao – “Yeah. My work schedule doesn't allow me to take those particular days off for the ... Although I would entertain ... I think if push comes to shove, I think the 25th would be the only day to attend.”
Council Member Morris – “It'll be the 25th. Yeah. 25th. That's the day the delegates vote. Yeah. But of course, by then, everything is over because they actually just come in on the morning, do the briefing of the whole conference and they may have a short speaker or something and an update and then they do the delegation vote. So, you're probably out of there by about noon or somewhere about there, noon or one o'clock.”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “Look, I'm going to say this and it might be controversial, but I've gone to the California League of Cities and I think there's one time that I think I was the only one who went and we were unable to designate me at that time as a voting member. And so, the city did not vote. And I'm not saying that I'm encouraging us to not vote because of course we want to send Councilman Morris, but in the case that no one could go, it's the process and so it is what it is. But I guess we can put me as an alternate just in case and if I have to drive out that day or do what we could do. Yeah.” Council Member Morris – “I mean, I'll try and make it. They haven't called me back. They're supposed to call me this week sometime.”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “The League of Cities is a really great conference. I really have enjoyed it.” Council Member Morris – “It's a lot of information there. If at any time you would like to go, it really is a great conference to go because you really gather a lot of information, a lot of networking with a lot of other cities. They may have similar cities like ours or what they're doing in their city so we can gather a lot of information. They have a lot of workshops that are very informational to cities and what cities are going to. So normally they try to have those conferences focus on things that are facing cities.” Motion to appoint Morris as the voting delegate and Solorio-Ruiz as the alternate was made by:
Solorio-Ruiz;
2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/ Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Public Works Director Nunez provided an update on the HVAC unit at the Jefferson Community Center.
Public Works Director Nunez – “Honorable Mayor and council members, I'm here to give you an update on the Jefferson Center HVAC system. So, the BRFHVAC system for the Jefferson Center was commissioned in 2018. We had a one-year warranty on labor and five years on material, so that period has passed. So, the past several years, the system serving the Jefferson Center has experienced reoccurring operational failures resulting in frequency interruptions and reduced reliability. Public work staffs has worked diligently to maintain the system's functionality throughout the ongoing troubleshooting repairs and replacements of individual components as its failures has occurred. During this period, all major components have been replaced on the system, including mechanical, electrical, and the control systems. Over the past four years, the city has expended roughly $70,000 on repairs and maintenance. As a result of the recent repairs, the HVAC system is currently operational as of this afternoon. Staff will be monitoring it today and tomorrow to make sure that it meets the needs for the summer. Staff will continue to monitor the system performance closely and perform routine maintenance to maximize reliability.
While the system is just becoming operational, the history of recurring failures indicates a long-term replacement planning is necessary. Preliminary estimates indicate the complete replacement of that system is roughly $450,000. That system is considered a VRF. It's a different system than your regular home or even the building has here at, which is a package unit. This package unit here failed. It has the heating and the air conditioning all in one package. This system has the condenser in one location and has piping that distributes to each little vent in the building. In our case, we have 52 small units throughout that building to control every little corner of that building if we want to. To potentially reduce the replacement costs while addressing most critical equipment needs, staff is evaluating the options to either replace it or phase out the two condensers and replace those individually. As an estimate that I have right now to replace the two condensers, it's about $140,000. Staff will continue to evaluate the replacement alternatives, including phasing out the condensers. And then I'll return to Council with recommendations and associated estimates and costs for those replacements. And that's the end of my report.”
City Manager Reyna – “Honorable Council, I want to assure the Council that it is not an issue that staff has not been paying attention to. It has been just a series of issues. We repair one thing and then another thing goes out and we repair one thing and another thing goes out. So, as you heard, the city has already expended $70,000 in looking into and repairing various issues. So, it is not a matter of if your unit is out, you need to call the HVAC guy. We have done that several times and on a number of different issues and concerns that we've had. We are now at a point where we are considering a complete replace out. As you heard, almost at half a million dollars. So, it is a big step. It is a big financial commitment. I'm not saying one that isn't necessary, but we are evaluating to see if maybe one more repair will get us to where we need to be. If not, then we will be coming back to council and that is what you're looking at is a half a million dollars of investment into that building again, which we'll take time to do and will take time to change out. It is not a come in the morning and be done by the evening kind of a replacement. It will be a month-long process. The seniors are now over at Ellington, not because we want them to be, but because it's in their best health to be over there during this hot summer as opposed to try to struggle through over at Jefferson. But if we move forward with the repair and if Council approves that, if that's where we're headed, then it will be repaired hopefully for many years to come, but it's not going to be a short couple of months process. And I just want to make sure that we all understand that because that needs to be relayed to your constituents and certainly to the seniors and to the public at large that this is not going to be a small project, but that is our report out. We know you guys have gotten a lot of questions. We know that the seniors are concerned, but that is the situation that we're looking at.” Council Member Alindajao – “This is just a report. Can we ask a question?” Assistant Attorney King – “Just very brief, brief discussion.” Council Member Alindajao – “Maybe three questions. What’s the typical life expectancy of a unit like that or a building?”
Public Works Director Nunez – “That is a new technology supposed to make everything more efficient, cost-effective. So those have been around for 15 years or so. So right now, there really isn't giving us a life expectancy. We don't have it. I mean, we've got a warranty for five years on the material, that's the manufacturer warranty that we have.”
Council Member Alindajao – “And if we purchased a new unit, what would be a typical warranty for a unit?”
Public Works Director Nunez – “Be about the same.”
Council Member Alindajao – “Five… still five years.”
Public Works Director Nunez – “Yeah. One year labor, five years material.” Council Member Alindajao – “Last statement. I am just a bit concerned that I don't want to throw $140,000 into some maintenance later to figure out that we need to replace the maintenance. Now we're $600,000, $700,000 deep into it. So that's my concern. That's it.” Council Member Osorio – “Yeah. I have one and a half questions. Thank you, Ms. Reyna.” City Manager Reyna – “And this item will be coming back to Council.” Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “I just want to make sure we're okay with speaking on it.” Assistant Attorney King – “Yeah, Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, it's okay. Just very brief discussion and we'll work with staff and in the future, we'll make sure this is agenda so you can have a more fuller discussion and make sure. It's okay.”
Council Member Osorio – “All right, thanks. So, thank you, Ms. Reyna, for those numbers. So, we're looking at about $200,000 in repairs roughly with the $140,000 if we move forward on that. Correct.
Yeah. And then the other question, building off on Councilmember Alindajao question is that's assuming we did a repair for this unit. What if we did the package system that the city has? Would it be almost the same price?”
Public Works Director Nunez – “Oh, a package unit we would have to evaluate the building because package units usually go on the roof. So we would have to do some structural analysis to get those on there or set them on the ground and retrofit, rip up the floors, rip up the ceiling. It's a major cost.” Council Member Osorio – “Got it. Thank you.”
Public Works Director Nunez – “It’s possible, but I think the cost would be about the same.”
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council Member Bryan Osorio – “Yeah, just very quickly, I had a chance to check out the opening weekend of the Aquatic Center. It was really heartwarming to see all the families taking advantage of it on day one. It was a very packed space, but very happy to see that the investment of the city is definitely going to good use. Second, I want to thank city staff for starting to promote already the Garces repavement project that way they can anticipate the traffic that's going to happen there. And I think that's something we have to keep pushing for the next month or so before they actually start working out there.
That's it for me.”
Council Member Alindajao – None.
Council Member Morris – “Excuse me. First of all, question I want to ask is the repairs on Garces Highway, when is that schedule to be started? Because people have been asking me, so whether it go down or that street or when's this going to start or do we know? It's going to be a flag process, right? I mean one side and then flag the other side and go. Okay. So that way I'll know because people ask me whether to go down that street or not go down that street or however. My other thing, I was going to say I attended the Memorial Day celebration down at the cemetery last Monday. And I think every year it gets a little bigger and there's more people and more people out there, but they have a ceremonies out there where all the organizations are representative and everybody brings a wreath to put out there to represent their organization in remembrance of those that have fallen, but City didn't have one out there.
So maybe next year we can plan on having the city have a wreath presented out there to commemorate that particular memorial of our veterans who have fallen. But like I said, I think it's getting to be an event that's very recognized in our community now. I've gone for the last two or three years now and every year there seems to be more and more people out there to recognize and I'm glad to see that. I'm glad to see that they are remembering those have fallen and we are because of the brave and we need to recognize their efforts and their sacrifices. And so other than that, I think that's all. And at the end of all these events this year, I think there have been more school events and concerts and plays and mariachi groups and all kinds of things happening at the schools. I hope that some of us take advantage of going to support those because people say, "Well, where are the other council members?" Okay. I'm not trying to put you guys down, okay? So I get being retired, right? But anyway, when you can, it's important for them and the kids feel they're asking, went to the Mariachi Group down at Harvest and La Vina, they'll say, "Well, who's coming? Who's coming to watch us?" And so that's important for them. We support them. So take time and your effort to support our schools and to support the children and the students out there.
And I know we have a lot of graduations this week, elementary and high school, I believe, all the same week. I be mindful of some of those things that happen and support our youth and that's all I have.” Mayor Pro-Tem Nunez – None.
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “I only have a couple. I have been having conversations with the City Attorney and the City Manager about potentially hiring a videographer or some type of social media person to help promote the city's efforts. It was recommended to conduct a policy first. And so the City Attorney and the City Manager, we've had certain discussions and so potentially I'm not going to set a definite month, but maybe sometime in July or August where if further conversations are happening and we think that it's the best move to bring forward to Council, then we'll go from there. But I just wanted to mention it here because of course those conversations are happening with the City Manager and the City Attorney. I also want to congratulate all of the graduates, the high school, the middle school, and all of the above. I know, of course, some council members as well, their sons and daughters have also graduated, and so congratulations to them as well. I also attended the spring concerts and then there was also, I didn't notice that there was the PIT report came out from the Bakersfield, the Regional Homeless Collaborative, and our numbers actually went down. We were at 91 and it went down to 51. And I just want to recognize, of course, the Council, the Chief of Police, everyone involved, the City Manager, everyone who is committed to that. We're closer to 30. That's better. That's better. Thank you, Vice Mayor. And so, I know that is of course a work in progress, that issue on its own. Other than that, I encourage everyone tomorrow get out there and vote. Your vote is important and so please remember to either drop off your ballot at a ballot designation area or vote in person. And of course, thank you to the city clerk. We're always organizing that as well. So other than that, that is all I have on my end. Can I get a motion to adjourn?”
CLOSED SESSION
No items
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Alindajao seconded by Nunez and unanimously carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 6:30pm. _____________________________________________
Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk